Oil & gas donates big bucks to NM politicians

CARLSBAD >> New Mexico's oil and gas industry accounted for nearly half of all campaign contributions to state legislators and Gov. Susana Martinez in 2013.

Artesia Representative Bill Gray, a Republican, accepted $3,950 in campaign contributions for oil and gas companies, leading the Eddy and Lea County contingent in Santa Fe.

"I don't think it's a problem," Gray said. "They have a significant place in the industry so they want to have a candidate who understands their business."

Gray is the ranking minority member on the New Mexico House Energy and Natural Resources Committee and had worked in the industry for nearly 50 years for ConocoPhillips, Sunray DX and Navajo Refinery before retiring. Gray accepted money from ConocoPhillips, Chevron, Devon Energy and Exxon Mobile.

Cathrynn Brown, Carlsbad

Gray, along with Carlsbad Rep. Cathrynn Brown and Jal Sen. Carroll Leavell, said they do not actively solicit campaign contributions but accept what is offered.

"The last few years I have not had any opposition so I take the money I get and actually contribute it to other candidates within the Republican Party to finance their campaigns," Gray said. "The last election I think I gave away about $20,000 to $30,000 to other candidates."

Brown received the second most oil and gas contributions, accepting a total of $1,050 from Chevron and Exxon Mobile.

"I do represent my area and the oil and gas industry is a huge part of our local and state economy," Brown said. "I'm proud to represent the people who are supplying good paying jobs. There's an expense in everything we do so these contributions continue to help us serve."

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Leavell and Hobbs Sen. Gay Kernan accepted the fewest donations from the industry, each receiving $300 from Exxon Mobile.

"I have about $13,000 in my account and it comes from almost every walk of life," Leavell said. "It stands to reason that some comes from oil. Simply, that's where my district is and I make no apologies for it, but my vote is not for sale."

A recent study by the New Mexico Tax Research Institute found that 31.5 percent of the state's general fund revenues came from the oil and gas industry in fiscal year 2013.

Gay Kernan, Hobbs

The potash industry, the second largest in the greater Carlsbad area, did not directly give any money to the Eddy and Lea contingent but did contribute to the political parties.

Intercontinental Potash, a Toronto-based company that is trying to build a new mine near Jal, donated a total of $5,000 to the Democratic Party of New Mexico and $4,000 to the New Mexico Republican Party in 2013. IC Potash also gave $12,900 to organizations supporting Gov. Susanna Martinez, $5,000 to State Land Commissioner Ray Powell, and $300 to Roxanne Lara, former Eddy County Commissioner and current Congressional candidate.

Intrepid Potash contributed $9,250 to political campaigns but no money to Southeastern New Mexico politicians.

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